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REBECCA L FINCH 



HEART LYRICS 




REBECCA L. FINCH| 



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COPYRIGHTED 

November 191S 
BY REBECCA L. FINCH 



PRINTING BY HALBERT R. STEPHENS 

DECEMBER. 11)16 

OKLAHOMA CITY. OKLAHOMA 

DEC 3n !9iB 
©CI.A509918 



The End of the Road 



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ILL you come with me to the end of 
the road? 
To the end that traileth away 
j>V Down thru the lanes where the heavy load 

Of each day^s burden makes us sivay 
And totter, grow faint and ill. 
Where we long for the touch of a vanished 

hand, 
And the sound of a voice that is still. 



Oh! come, my love, and tread with me. 
This lonely road that winds by the sea. 
The path — so sharp and keen an edge — 
Akin to a razor^s edge may be. 
So hand in hand may we walk slong 
This winding path, our heartbeats strong. 
Our souls attuned to the self-same song. 



My Tryst. 

J MUST keep my tryst with the God of War 
On the western front where the heroes are. 
As they falter and fall in broken array. 
Others to meet Him are rushed to the fray. 
When my turn comes my tryst I will keep 
With this God of War, tho* loved ones weep. 
Into No'Man* s-Land as I creep along 
Thru bursting shell and hissing bomb. 
My tryst is uppermost, near or far. 
On this western front where the heroes are. 



Friend of Mine. 



( J FRIEND of mine! I love you, dear. 

There's a tugging at my heart 
And a straining of the ear 
When I hear thy footsteps near. 

Thy arms 'round me, thy cheek 'gainst 

mine. 
My thoughts of thee like rarest wine. 
Oh! love so sweet. Oh! friendship fair. 
No more of grief, no more of care. 

And yet my love's akin to pain, 
The keenest pain that one can know; 
When all my heart's blood feels the strain 
Of muscle tense, and action slow. 

And yet I know, dear heart so true. 
My love shall ever be for you 
A perfume siveet, a blossom fair. 
Whose full unfoldment we shall share. 



Retrospect. 



In the dim vaults of Yesterday, 

Are many loves I held most dear. 
I lift the lid, and tenderly 
I gaze with falling tear. 



On this wan ghost, and that one there. 
And smile while yet I weep. 
These forms I builded with such care. 
And peopled with ideals so fair. 



Deserted now, and but a wraith 
Of what they used to he. 
My heart is sad, for the aftermath 
Holds memories sweet for me. 



I close the lid, for it is not wise 
To look too long at Yesterday. 
A new day dawns, new loves arise 
Who greet me in the same dear way. 



My Love and I. 



A/jY Love and I went a-journeying! 
■*■ ^'^ To the gray-green sea 
With its sighs and its moans. 
And the waves that dash 
And roar and splash. 
On sand and shell 
And the gravelly stones. 
My Love and I went a-journeying! 

My Love and I went a-journeying! 

Hand in hand we sped along 

With heart-heats loud and strong— 

Suffocatingly strong-^ 

We two. 

As we went a-journeying. 

My Love and I went a-journeying! 

On the shore of the noisy sea 

Sat we down. 

Dreamily we watched the sea- gulls' flight. 

As they circled away and out of sight. 

Then close we sat with our hands clasped 

tight. 
My Love and I, 
As we went a-journeying. 

My Love and I went a-journeying! 

Our thoughts soared high. 

And winged their way 

With many a sigh. 

To far-off heights. 

'Twas joy that was pain. 

This soaring so high, 

'Twas divine! 

When Love and I tvent a-journeying! 



My Love and I went a- journeying! 

Ah! would that the journey might last 

Forever, alway! 

That the foam of the gray-green sea 

Might ever envelop and keep. 

And hold in its misty deep. 

We two, 

As we go a-journeying! 



A Birthday Verse, 

J\ BIRTHDAY gift to thee, my Friend, 

Oh! Friend of long ago. 

These run thru many ages gone. 

And yet — ^tis ever so: 

The friends we hold close to our hearts 

Are ever held that way. 

Nor chance nor fate may alter this; 

Our hearts are hound and stay. 



True Love, 



I RUE love lies in giving, not seeking 
The love of the loved in return. 
Then I may adore without speaking. 
And a valuable lesson may learn. 

The self ever seeks to be uppermost. 
So each time I crush and despise. 
Rare blooms may be bruised and broken. 
But the suteetest of perfumes will rise. 

The perfume is better by far. 
Than the rarest of flowers I ween. 
Distill-ed essence, the souVs very own. 
And I of my soul, am the Queen. 



A Symbol. 



/I WEE tiny bit of blue heather 
^^^ Flashing out 'tween the boulders gray, 
A symbol to draw us together. 
And give us the courage to pray. 
The boulder gray, doth protection give 
To the tiny blue flower beside. 
It shelters it so that it may live. 
And shine f firth in beauty, whatever betide. 



The Moon. 

I PEEP at you over the big round moorif 

I peep and dare you to play. 
But you think I am only a big buffoon. 
And carelessly turn away. 

I peep and I wink and I wig-wag at you. 
But you do not seem to see. 
All these years I have searched for you. 
And now you won't play ivith me. 

So Pll sit on the horn of the little moon. 

And ever alone Pll be; 

While you make gay with the lighter 

loves. 
But never make gay with me. 



Thoughts. 



I WANDERED slowly down the lane 

A-thinking, dear, of you. 
The lofty hills, the level plain. 
The rugged elms, the endless chain 
Of beauty true. 

And as I wandered slowly down 

This lane so still and green. 

My thoughts sped back some years agone 

To a shining daywhose golden sheen 

Illumined you. 

Your hand in mine securely held. 
Your eyes so tender, true. 
Eyes whose hidden depths disclosed 
A mirrored soul-light fair and pure 
As Heaven^s own. 



To My Love. 



^^HAT have I done to merit love? 

Naught, I confess, save that Vve given 
A love so great, no power can move. 
So strongly has my heart been riven. 

I must not grieve if thou dost not care. 
Or caring, still may deem it well 
To not return thy hearths full share. 
But build a strong protecting shell 

Around thyself, and not permit 

This tide of love that surges strong as fate. 

To ruffle thee, for fear of fret 

That might distress the souVs calm state. 

True love does not require response. 
But only asks a chance to love. 
If there's to be no recompense. 
Then I must love thee more, to prove 

My heart's unselfish love for thee. 
Is for thy happiness and joy. 
'Tis vain to think what haps to me. 
That matters not. My heart's employ 

Shall be to see thou'rt happy, well. 
So transient joys may weave their spell 
O'er thee, while I in solitude will pray. 
And love thee thru the endless day. 



Stay Home, My Heart. 

\TAY home my heart, and rest. 

What seems to thee a vision fair 
Is naught but restless undersea. 
And treachery lurketh there. 

Stay home my heart and rest. 
And make for thee a bower 
Where love and happiness may stay. 
And peace dwell every hour. 

Stay home my heart, no longer stray 
To blissful fields in meadows gay. 
Beside the hearth where the warm fire 

glows. 
The soul expands and buds and grows. 

Here dwells Truth and Peace and Love, 
Virtures rare for those who come 
To rest a while in *^Home sweet Home** 
Stay home my heart, and do not rove. 



The Soldier. 

jlI dear little hoy in a coat of blue^ 
Went marching and singing the whole 
day thru. 
His voice, so lusty and full and strong. 
Went out in a gay little, dear little song. 

Heigh-ho! Heigh-ho! 
Up in the air so blue. 
Heigh-ho! Heigh-ho! 
A soldier I am so true. 

Heigh-ho! Heigh-ho! 

To my flag I m true blue. 

Heigh-ho! Heigh-ho! 

I'll fight for her honor true. 

So up and down he marched and sang. 
So loyal and brave and true. 
A lesson for grown-ups who care not a hang 
For their flag with its field so blue. 



My Friend. 

T'eNDERLY, truly, I think of thee 

And ponder your words to me. 
Dear sweet words, in a whisper low, 
"/ truly and tenderly love you so." 

Truth and tenderness coupled together. 
What a mighty force they wield. 
Upheavals of Nature, wind and weather. 
Trees uprooted in the field. 

These are as naught to the soul's deep 

stress. 
The storm that leaves the soul so shriven. 
Then the dear hands of my friend doth 

press. 

And make me realize the haven 

Of truth and tenderness all about. 

The trust and friendship dear. 

The stress is gone, the storm is naught. 

When these dear words I hear. 



Karma, 



JwIY fevered brow, my aching brain, 

A throbbing heart that bears the strain 
Of absence, love distraught. 
This mighty force that surges up 
From out the past unsought. 

It brings to me the harsh effect 
Of causes long ago sent out. 
The sorrows that Vd fain correct. 
The joys that have been put to rout. 
Are what the years have brought. 

The simple tasks I daily do. 
The kindly words I speak to you. 
The noble deeds, the friendly smile. 
Or harsh and cruel, all the while 
Karma is building true. 

Then I will make this one resolve — 
To never speak the thoughtless word. 
Nor spare the friendly smile. 
I'll slay the self with love's keen stvord. 
And pray and serve the while. 



My Light. 

jHE load is heavy, my heart is sad, 
^ I peer thru the gloom and try to see 
Something ahead to make me glad. 
But it seems there is nothing for me. 

But what does it matter to me. 
If the old world's darkness and gloom 
Should cover me up like the fog o'er the sea. 
And the darkness be that of the tomb? 

I am only a tiny wee flame. 
Sent forth by the God of love. 
To illumine the sound of His name 
And turn men's thoughts up above. 

So my business it is to tend 
My little flame so bright. 
Never caring about the gloom 
That hovers over my light. 

My radiance afar shall gleam 
And my heart must devoted be. 
So that all on life's wide stream 
Will pierce the gloom and see. 



Disappointed. 

jLmND so you've found me out! 

A disappointment sore I've been. 
A weakling! sorely tossed about. 
But with an aching heart, I ween. 

A heart that loves and aches for you. 

Despite the shaft so keen. 

A greater nobler soul, more true 

You thought me, and I should have been. 

Yes, I am but a poor weak thing. 
With naught of virtue proud. 
Save love so great it bids me fling 
Defiance to the motley crowd. 

Ah! yes, I sense more than you know. 

This love of which you speak. 

Is born of sacrifice I trow. 

On either side, and yet methinks. 

It seems a thrust so bitter, keen. 
That sears anew this wound so deep. 
"A greater soul" you thought me? I seem 
To sense my failure, and will ever keep 

Drawn round my soul a curtain fair. 

That none may guess is hidden there 

A new-made grave, smoothed down with 

care. 
Of buried hopes, in which you share. 

Disappointment, keen tho' it be. 
In desert drear, of waiting love. 
To sweetest joys transmuted be. 
And Angel messengers will come 

To press soft hands on eyes that ache 
And sting with weight of tears unshed. 
Of a radiance fair we may partake. 
And friendship's halo round us spread. 



Deserted. 



ZIRE you my Love? Then come to tne. 

And take my kisses all for thee. 
The day is late, you come not soon — 
The shadows lengthen, 'tis afternoon. 

My heart grows faint at your delay. 
Today will soon be yesterday. 
Our life's short day will soon be o'er. 
I see the lights on yonder shore. 

Full soon our boat will anchor there. 
Then no more sadness nor despair. 
But now my heart is sad and sore. 
My loved one comes to me no more. 

AlasI Alack! my foolish heart 
Still calls and mourns, and yet apart 
We stay. You do not seem to see 
Me moan and cry and yearn for thee. 



In Flanders Field. 

IX/Iy heart is out in Flanders Field, 

Where poppies gay 

Nod heads all day 

Like sprites at play. 
O'er graves in Flanders Field. 

My heart is out in Flanders Field, 

With crosses white, 

Cer eyes so bright. 

Now closed so tight — 
Our boys in Flanders Field. 

In Flanders Field, in Flanders Field, 

Mid poppies gay 

My heart will stay. 

Nor ever stray. 
From the graves in Flanders Field. 

Chorus. 

In Flanders Field, in Flanders Field, 
My heart is there all day. 



Whatever Thou Do, Do Well. 



Above the din and strife and shrieks. 
Above the shot and shell, 
A voice within insistent speaks — 
''Whatever thou do, do well.** 

So if I hurl the deadly shell 

Or wield the cruel steel — 

The blow that sounds the funeral knell— 

I must not pause, I must not feel. 

This cankered sore that threats the world 
Must come beneath the surgeon*s knife. 
These deadly hordes be backward hurled. 
By eager ready men for strife. 



Query vs. Query. 



yOU ask if 'tis best that we travel together 
Thru endless days, and all kinds of weather. 
If our love is so infinitely strong and great, 
'Twill stretch onward and thru Eternity's 
gate. 

You ask if 'tis wise that we travel this road 
That winds by the sea and along thru 

the wood. 
Are we ever sure of our ultimate good? 
Sure of each other's changing mood? 

Shall we pass by an oasis fair 
In the desert drear, and pausing there. 
Gaze with longing eyes and heart aburst. 
And question the wisdom of quenching 
our thirst? 



My Valentine. 

j J EAR hearty I love you true. 
And ever I think of you. 
My foolish heart—it almost breaks 
For love of you. 



Baffled. 

J WANDERED out in the dark of the night. 
Where the shadows were closely pressed 
Into a sea of black; where the sight 
Went out, and my heart was sore distressed. 
The dank cold air blew full in my face 
And sought to gain entrance within; 
But my spirit arose, and not a trace 
Of fear and cold could abide therein. 



The End of the War. 

i—jAVE you heard the news that came today 

From over the sea so far away. 
That Germany^ s thrall is broken at last. 
And Tyranny^ s reign is of the past? 

The shackles that bound are struck away. 
And Germany* s hosts are free men today. 
They^re children yet in the scheme of things 
In this Free song their country sings 

Many a discord will make its way. 

And mar the lilt of the song so gay. 

For the evils grave they have wrought in all 

The nations wide, and the heavy pall 

Of sorrow and grief that hangs today 
O'er all the world in a cloud so gray. 
They'll have to pay in sighs and tears 
This grievous debt, through many years. 

Their barbarous acts to beasts belong. 
And the debt so hard to pay 
Will drag the chain full ages long. 
And no merciful hand will stay 

This Karmic law so true and just, 

That eternally sifts and bears 

Each life's full share — e'en tho' accursed — 

It must be paid through many tears. 



The Great Adventure. 

I\/IUST I cross the strange threshold alone 

And peer through the shadows gray. 
Never again to see my home 
And my loved ones far aivay? 
The shadows gray but darker grow. 
And widen the space between 
My home so dear, and the ones I know. 
And the ghostly faces unseen. 
Must I embark on this unknown sea, 
Atid brave its perils alone? 
As I question my soul, there comes to me 
From out of the Great Unknoivn, 
A Voice so sweetly still and clear 
And tvithin so insistent speaks. 
It bids me go on and never fear 
The shadows' threatening peaks. 
My heart is thrilled by this Voice so sweet. 
And the tumult ceases within. 
An adventure rare for me to meet. 
And solve the great questions therein. 
My heart leaps up in a joyous bound. 
Eager to be on its way 
To explore the depths of the Great 

Profound, 
And ever in endless way 
Go on and on and upward climb 
This tortuous Path, that ever winds 
*Mid shadows deep and boulders gray. 
That ever tend to obstruct the way. 
So this Adventure is not for me 
A journey into an unknown sea. 
The jagged rocks that shatter the crest 
Of the rushing waves so fiercely prest 
* Gainst my frail bark, but courage gives 
To my storm-tossed soul on its journey 

rare. 
I know that souls eternally live! 
This Adventure great, is for all to share. 



A Reverie. 



Zl WAY down thru the misty past. 
In the beautiful long ago. 
Memories are crowding thick and fast. 
And will not let you go. 

In leafy woodland, hill and plain. 
By every t^vell- oved spot, 
I look and listen; have looked in vain 
For you, but found you not. 

At last you come to me again 
From out of the long ago. 
And my heart leaps in glad surprise. 
And will not let you go. 

You are mine, of my soul a part! 
The past is revealed to me. 
You are the one who has held my heart 
On hill and plain and sea. 

How do I know? Ah, who can say? 
A sudden flash, my past appears, 
And you by my side in the dear old way, 
A-journeying down the years. 

So on and on thru the ages ahead. 
Hand in hand may we journey along. 
Content to know that the Cosmic thread 
Binds us both in the self-same song. 



My Soldier, 



\TEP by step I march with you^ 

And share your trials^ too. 
Your woes are mine. 
Your joys sublime 
They thrill me thru and thru. 

Then we'll keep step, my soldier lad, 
My soldier — brave and true — 
Within the trench mid shot and shell. 
And "over the top" into the hell 
Of No-Man' s-Land creep thru. 

My force to you I'll ably give 
When flashing steel meets steel. 
That Truth and Justice yet may live. 
Not crush-ed be by tyrant's heel. 
Nor cruel torture feel . 

So step by step I march with you. 

My soldier laddie, true. 

Your hand in mine. 

Your eyes a-shine. 

As I march along with you. 



Roses. 



M OR who should send you roses^ 

But one who loves you well? 
In whose own soul reposes 
A faith too sweet to tell. 

So wear my roses on your breast; 
I've kissed them every one. 
And sent them out upon their quest 
To bring you joy anon. 

Within each chalice deep may wend 
My dearest love to you. 
A longing wish that you may send 
A tender thought and true 

To meet my own, and mingling there. 
Ecstatic joy and peace be ours. 
This crowning touch, a sense so rare. 
That hallows all life's hours. 



Doubt. 



yOU think I do not love you? 
If there is more that I can do 
To prove my love for you, 
I know it not. 

You^ve sent your dart into the deeps. 
And to the sky so blue. 
And it has ever reached its mark 
Because of you. 

Vve sung to you my souVs sweet strain. 
My eternal love for you. 
Vve bared my heart, and yet *tis plain 
These will not do. 

My gifts to you do not suffice 
To prove my heart's deep love. 
Could I but know, ay, in a trice 

My love to you Vd prove. 

This little flower that I send. 

May it prove a token true. 

And in its chalice deep, may wend 

A message sweet, for you. 

Ah! do not doubt my love so true. 
It breeds but discontent. 
Be sure, dear heart, my love for you 
Is Heaven-sent. 



The Turned' down Leaf, 



I^HE book is closed! the leaf turned down! 
"* Sometime^ perchance, we may pass this way 

d idly see, and wonder why 
As we turn the leaves^ this was turned 
turned to stay. 

Was there a pause in our reading time? 
An interruption suddenly made? 
And did we fear we would miss a line 
Of the page so interesting? or the shade 

Of a thought but half expressed 
Made us turn the leaf, and foolishly 
Hope to finish some future time 
This ha f 'read page of yours and mine? 

Ah, never again the sweet fond thrill, 
The spell of the writer, the glamour, 

but still 
A faint perfumed fragrance lingers near 
This half -read page, this story dear. 

Ah, me! I wonder if 'tis always best 
To close the book when the eager quest 
Of the reader comes too near 
To the soul of the Writer — the Seer. 



£^or who should send sweet thoughts to you 

But one who'll ne'er forget 
The happy hours, the heartfelt joys. 
Held fast in memory's net. 
Then for the sake of Auld Lang Syne 
So filled with memories dear, 
I pray you read my simple rhymes 
That they may bring you cheer. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 

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